1450 driveshaft questions

rfrank · #1 08-01-2011, 08:26 PM

I've got a 1450 that I rebuilt the engine and put new iso mounts and did the cradle mod. While running the back end of the drive shaft looks smooth and doesn't appear to wobble. The front does. Is there supposed to be a spherical ball in the front side as well. The back is there. All that was in the front was a spherical bushing? I understand that the motor jumps around a bit with the iso mounts, howver it still appears that there is too much "wobble" out of roundness on the front?

_DX3_ · #2 08-01-2011, 08:43 PM

Did you replace the front drive shaft bushing? It may have been wore. The ball goes in the back, there isn't one in the front. Did you replace the rag joints also? I put two in the front of my 1250 and one in the rear. I could have went with two at each end. It only came with one at each end from the factory and had way too much expansion and wear due to that, and my front bushing was completely shot. Had to replace it. Did you check your drive shaft for straightness while you had the motor out? I am just throwing out some questions not knowing what all you had done to it. I am sure some of the other guys will have some better ideas... We'll get it figured out.

CC1650Dave · #3 08-01-2011, 09:09 PM

Dx3 - did you shorten the driveshaft yourself when you went with 3 flex discs? I know from the service manual that in later models they went with 2 at the back.

And yeah, my first questions would be to assure that rfrank went with new discs in the first place, and that the shaft was straight.

_DX3_ · #4 08-01-2011, 09:12 PM

No, was no need to shorten it, what installing two discs did was take up the extra space between the rag joint mounts. The single rag joint was pulled excessively, two filled the space perfectly and will allow for a much much longer life span of the joints.

Cvans · #5 08-01-2011, 11:55 PM

I have to agree with not shortening the shaft. I made my own Flex disc's from heavy conveyor belting the same thickness as the originals. I have had zero problems and they were fairly easy to make. I'm retired so I have the time for this foolishness.

rfrank · #6 08-02-2011, 12:58 PM

I did not check the driveshaft to see if it turns true. I will do that. I did not replace the bushing as it showed little wear and turned/pivoted freely without any noticeable wear. I definately agree about using two flex discs, when only using one, the disc is really flexed. I knew there was not a spherical ball in the front when I took it apart but I wasnt sure of the PO had removed it. thanks for the info, no front ball, use two flex discs and replace front bushing, and finally check driveshaft for trueness.